Locomotive journal box



March 21, 1933. A. F. PHELPS 1,902,

LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL BOX Filed April 28, 1951 Patented Mar. 21, 1933 *LUNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR FRED PHEL PSQOEBLUEFIELD, WEST VIRGINIA, ssIGNoR TQ WEST I VIRGINIA AnMA'rURE 00., OF'IBLUEFIEI D, WEST VIRGINIA VLOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL BOX Application filed April 28,

. The present invention relates to journal bearings for axles of car wheels and consists in the combinations and arrangements of elements hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the accompanying claim.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a journal bearing especially adapted for axles of locomotive car wheels of the type employed in working mines, which is flexible and will 1c yield when put to extreme usage as when the locomotive becomes derailed through uneven or spread tracks, or from other cause. And in these emergencies the parts of the bearing will be automatically restored to their origi- 1 nal or normal positions,

summarily stated, the improved journal bearing is characterized in having an upper fixed and a lower yieldable bearing block member engaging the car wheel axle and normally held in bearing engagement through journal bearing is further designed with regard to simplicity of construction and ruggedness to the end of withstanding all ordinary kinds of mining use or abuse and 39 which will stand up or give effective service until completely worn out. The purpose is to provide a yielding, strain-resisting, flexible, and unbreakable journal box.

The construction disclosed herein shows one adaptation of the underlying principle of the invention and further modifications or adaptations thereof are disclosed in my four (4) co-pending applications for U. S. Letters Patent on locomotive journal boxes executed and filed of even date, to wit: Serial Nos. 533,532; 533,533; 533,534; 533,536; filed April 28, 1931.

Outside frame carriages for mining cars do not require flexibility of construction to prevent breakage in their journal boxes or yielding in the lower halves thereof, because, being located at the'ends of the axle and outside the track gauge, the degree of angular displacement is so slight under any circumstances 3 compared with the vertical stroke of the jour- 1931. Serial No. 533,535.

nal box in its guides that there little or no likelihood of any breakage occurring. Furthermore, outside frame'journal boxeslare commonly solid castings and become rarely broken,- while inside frame journal b'oxesas herein shown-must be of split'or divided type for the purpose of readily assembling on the axles between the driving wheels. In this position the ratio of variation in height between the two boxes on the same axle is very. I short, and, since the normal movements of the journal box in its, guidesis vertical and never angular or rotary, beyond very slight limits, this variation sometimes reaches a great angle and tends tospread the top and bottom halves apart, throwing great strain on the clamped halves of the box, which are commonly held together by machine bolts, screws, or lockpins. Frequently through such stresses the bolts become broken, pins are sheared, or the box is strainedcompletely out of shape. The invention disclosed herein proposes to over: come these disadvantages and to supply a wide felt need for a journal box for the in side framesof locomotives which will be proof against these injuries. 1

The. invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a central sectional view, partly in elevation, of the locomotive journal box.

Figure 2 a top plan view thereof. Figure 3 an endhelevation. Figure 4 an end elevational view of the lower or movable bearing block, and;

. Figure 5a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Referring to the. construction in further detail and wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the differcut ifigures, the journal box comprises a suit 90 able frame or supporting structure 6 having side portions 7 for mounting in the wheel truck or carriage of the car, and designed to receive the usual upper fixed and lower movable axle bearing blocks 8 and 9 respectively, as shown.

I The lower bearing block 9 is designed to have free vertical movementwithin the space of the support or frame 6, and is also adapted 1 to have restricted angular or rotary-likemotion to take up corresponding movement of the axle of the locomotive through derailment or other probable cause to which cars employed in mines are constantly subjected. In such emergencies the invention operates to allow for such extreme usage of the car axle and operates to restore the movable journal part to normal position.

The means supporting the lower bearing block consists of two bolts 10, freely passing through openings 11 and 12', formed in the supporting structure 6 and lower block members 9, and said bolts are adapted to be conveniently inserted into position after or before placement of the bearing block 9 and as conveniently removed from position either before or after the bearing book has been withdrawn. V

The resilient sustaining means for the lowerjournal bearing consists of a spring member 13 fitting reasonably close within the 7 space or chamber 15 formed continuous with the opening 11,. and engaging the head 15 of the bolt, as shown. And the dimensions of thelower block 9 and the spring and bolt sustaining devices permit free up and down movements of the block 9 and likewise afford limited lateral or rotary-like motion to the look when the car wheel axle is subjected to the unusual strains as above explained.

the bolts between the heads and the bottom walls of said recesses and constantly acting to move the lower bearing block in the direction of the upper bearing block and normally hold the lower bearing block against; angular movement. 7 i

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ARTHUR F. PHELPS.

The bolt members 10 are secured by the j nuts 16 screw-threaded on the bolt ends 17 and by means of said nuts the desired tension of the bolt head 15 against the springs 13 is regulated. A plate overlies and is secured upon the top of the frame structure 6 by the four bolts 18 and said plate is apertured as at 19 to give clearances to the bolt heads 15 in the emergencies stated.

It will be understood the journal box herein disclosed is provided with all other essential devices for mounting the same in position on the truck or corresponding portion of the locomotive, and is likewiseequipped with suitable means, for supplying lubricant to the wheel axle bearing in the two blocks 8 and 9, and with the details of which construction the present invention is not concerned.

It will be further understood that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention;

and therefore I do not wish to be limited to such features except as required by the claim.

What is claimed as new is: An inside journal box for locomotive axles, comprising an open frame adapted to be mounted on the locomotive, an upper bearing block arranged in and fixed to the frame, 

